Amanda Taylor was born in 1960 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She attended the University of Calgary in Geophysics and worked in the oil industry for 31 years. In 2008 she attended the American School of Craft at RIT in Rochester, NY to work towards her BFA in Glass.
Amanda ran her consulting business and glass studio from her home in Calgary until 2008 when she moved to Batavia, NY. She is now co-owner/operator, alongside her husband, Lance Taylor, of OATKA School of Glass & Glass Studio in Batavia, NY. The school/studio is comprised of 13,000 square feet of warehouse space. They recently bought an 1825 house and property in Le Roy, NY which they plan on turning into housing for visiting instructors, students, and other out of town visitors.
Creativity, learning, love of the outdoors, and travel have always had been part of Amanda’s life. She has always loved working with her hands but it was her interest in ceramics that eventually drew her into her passion for working with kiln-formed glass. Her newest work deals mainly with the use of glass frits, powders and recycled glass to express the raw beauty of trees and landscapes that surround us all. Expect to see her other interests (painting, sculpting, ceramics, metal working, textiles, and woodworking) start to intertwine their way into her glass. “I love to take it all in and absorb whatever I have learnt and find ways to apply it to my art. It takes time and lots of commitment to try and achieve the vision we may all have for our work.”
A smile is generally on her face and laughter is something she is known for. Enjoying life and all that goes with it is something that she strives very hard for. “Balance....well there are just too many things to do and learn in life and I, of course, would like to do as much as humanly possible…I love it all.”
Lance Taylor first started working with Stained Glass in the 70s. More recently he has realized his true passion for kiln-formed glass. He and his wife, Amanda Taylor, are currently exploring various fusing, kiln casting and high fire techniques in their upstate New York Studio and Teaching Facility.
His background includes: over 15 years of Wholesale and Retail Experience; his own Sales Company representing some 50 Manufacturers to the Gift Trade; participation in numerous tradeshows (New York, and Los Angeles); 5 retail stores in NYC and Connecticut; a successful display design and manufacturing business and most recently, and he has overseen global distribution for a well known record label. Lance continues to consult for startup artists by helping them to make correct and informed decisions!
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